SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington- Although the Cowlitz and Kalama both have steelhead, coho and chinook available, most effort and success is coming from the North Fork of the Lewis River. The Lewis will likely be the highlight for the remainder of the year although the Cowlitz may produce fair coho catches into early November.

 

The mouths of the Klickitat and White Salmon will remain primary targets for coho anglers although chinook continue to fall on the Klickitat system. The coho fishery will last into mid-November but it’s clear that the return this year isn’t as strong as it has been in years past.

SW Washington fishing

SW Washington- Anglers are catching some coho on the Cowlitz while the Kalama and Lewis are producing more chinook. The Lewis is the best prospect for retention of chinook with the run likely to last several more weeks.

 

Effort and success are dropping at Drano Lake but farther east in the gorge, the Klickitat should remain an option, especially for coho well into November. It’s clear however that coho numbers are down.

SW Washington fishing

SW Washington- District anglers remain challenged by good numbers of non-biting chinook and coho in the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers. Upcoming rains should dramatically improve results and fresh fish should enter each of these systems. Check regulations carefully as each watershed differs.

 

The mouths of the White Salmon and Klickitat are producing good catches of chinook and some coho. Anglers averaged about a chinook per rod counting jacks last week and that’s not likely to change given the ratio of jacks to adults passing Bonneville Dam.

SW Washington Fishing

SW Washington- District streams are running extremely low for this time of year. Chinook are present in good numbers, especially on the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Action on these streams should improve substantially when fall rains arrive.

 

Chinook and some coho are being taken at the mouths of the White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers. Action for coho should only improve from here.

 

Fishery managers rescinded the proposed sturgeon season above Bonneville Dam beginning October 20^th. Higher than expected catch rates were realized effectively closing most of the Columbia River and Willamette River harvest for the remainder of the year. Catch and release fishing remains a good option. Retention is allowed in The Dalles Pool Thursdays through Saturdays, until the 300 fish quota is met.

 

Soapbox Update: This is a call to sportanglers. THE most important call in the history of sportfishing! Here is the information from NSIA’s Liz Hamilton:

 

The gillnetters are showing, through their participation in recent meetings what Columbia River mainstem gillnetting means to them. Last week’s meeting in Washington resulted in only a handful of sportfishing industry representatives present…gillnetters filled the room.

 

The Columbia River is the single-largest driver of Sportfishing-related expenditures in the region. For 20 years NSIA has worked hard to open the door for your business to this incredible wealth of sustainable business opportunity. The time has arrived to show-up, be counted and be heard.

 

Governor Kitzhaber has a plan on the table that will deliver the goods. His compromise will provide better protection for wild fish and better economic returns on the fisheries in the river. 

 

It’s not going to happen unless you show-up and participate. If getting the gillnets out of the main stem Columbia River is important to you and your business then you’ll show through your actions just how important that opportunity is. Your participation is needed to succeed.

 

To win this, here’s what we need from you:

 

• Attend every meeting! The next two are:
• October 6 in the Columbia Room of the state Legislative Building at 614 Sid Snyder Ave. S.W. in Olympia.

 

• October 18, in Portland 7900 NE 82nd Ave. Portland, OR. This is a joint commission work group meeting. Public Comment will be taken.

 

• Write to the Commissions! odfw.commission@state.or.us,
  commission@dfw.wa.gov
• STAY TUNED AND READY!

 

Your message is easy. Tell them what this proposal means and how important it is to your business and to you personally.  Call NSIA today and let us know you’re going to participate. We need to hear from you now.  (503) 631-8859

 

We’ll keep you posted and be there every step of the way to support you and the message you bring.

 

This is the single-largest development for NW Sportfishing in the past 50 years. Don’t miss it!